Looooong week

Today marks my 5th trip to the airport this month. My brother came back from HK/China this morning, and Dad & I went to pick him up. Saw off Mum and my brother 2 weeks ago, and Aunt C and my sister last week. The tally will increase to 6 on Thursday when we go and pick Mum up. With the 3 more vocal members of the family overseas, it's been pretty quiet at home. Just my youngest brother yapping away on the phone with his music turned up until the wee hours of the morning every second night.

Well, after weeks of bumming around at home most of the time, last week was pretty full-on and I'm exhausted. Early mornings every single day. I need to work on increasing my energy level...Anyway, last week, I went for my first interview since I've been back (though unsuccessful), went to the airport twice, ate out with relatives a few times, had one of my best buddies over for dinner (we had shabu-shabu^^), went shopping, did reception work at my uncle's medical practice (it usually starts off pretty slow and then everyone decides to arrive at the same time an hour before he closes), played badminton (at least my muscles didn't ache afterwards like they did 2 weeks ago), studied Japanese, tried to talk my youngest brother who is in Year 12 this year into studying (without success), and participated in the JETAA trivia night (I was in team MOMIJI and I think we came last, or close to last, but it was fun nevertheless). I also spent many nights cooking with Dad. We even made dessert most nights. And the stories are true - he's a pretty good cook.^^

Sydney has been blessed with some decent rainfall these past 2 days. The first big rainfall since February apparently. I pray that the Qlders also get some soon...they've been on level 5 water restrictions for some time now, the poor things. I don't know if I could ever live with 4-minute showers!! Water sustainability is the talk of the country these days. I noticed that the daily changes in dam water levels are reported in the newspapers and even on the TV news. I wonder when that started...I heard on the radio today that a large percentage of the rainwater that falls on Sydney runs straight out to the ocean, which is a terrible waste. Apparently it's good enough to drink. I admire the people out there who have spent a great deal of money (it's expensive even with the government rebate) to install a rainwater tank in their backyard, which they somehow connect to the water pipes to use for washing their clothes, flushing the toilet, etc. If only there were more cost efficient and more effective ways to capture and store the precious rainwater...